How Should an Ugly Christmas Sweater Fit? Choosing the Right Size for Every Fan

An ugly Christmas sweater should fit like a comfortable crewneck: room for a T-shirt underneath, the hem at your hips, and sleeves that end at your wrists. Our sweaters are cut in a regular fit. The best way to choose a size is to measure a sweater you already like and compare it with our chart, not to rely on the letter size you usually buy.

Below, you’ll find how to pick the look you want, what actually changes when you size up, and two worked examples using our real measurements.

Start With a Sweater You Already Own

Letter sizes aren’t consistent from brand to brand, so “I’m a Large” isn’t enough to go on. Our size chart lists the measurements of the sweater itself. That means you can compare it directly with a sweater or sweatshirt that already fits the way you like.

1. Lay that sweater flat on a table and smooth it out without stretching it.
2. Measure straight across the chest, from armpit to armpit.
3. Double the number and compare it with the Bust column on our size chart.

Only the chest number gets doubled. Length, Shoulder, and Sleeve are compared exactly as measured, and our Size Guide shows where to take each one.

Classic, Roomy, or Oversized: Choose the Look

These are three ways to wear the same sweater, not three sizing formulas. Decide which look you want first, then use the measurements to get there. The extra inches below are starting points from our chart, not guarantees: how a size looks on you also depends on your build, your shoulders, and what you wear underneath.

What Changes When You Size Up

Each step up adds about 4 inches to the Bust, but the length and sleeves don’t always grow with it. Here’s what happens if your usual size is L:

Our chart shows a few things that general sizing advice won’t tell you:

• M and L are the same length (28″). Going from M to L adds width through the chest and shoulders, while the length stays at 28 inches.
• XL and 2XL share the same length (30″) and sleeve (28″). Going from XL to 2XL adds room through the chest and shoulders, but the Sleeve measurement doesn’t change.
• The shoulder gets about 1 inch wider per size. Wider shoulders can make the seams sit lower on your arms, which is part of the relaxed look of a bigger size. It also means the cuffs can land lower on your hands than the Sleeve number alone suggests, because Sleeve is measured from the shoulder seam.

Two Worked Examples

Example 1: Classic Fit, Stuck Between M and L

Your favorite crewneck measures 23 inches from armpit to armpit, or 46 inches around. That’s right between M (44-inch Bust) and L (48-inch Bust).

• M would be 2 inches snugger than the sweater you like.
• L would be 2 inches roomier.
• Both are 28 inches long, so choosing L adds no extra length.

Lean toward L. Going by the Bust, and because our sweaters are a regular fit that usually goes over a T-shirt, 2 extra inches is more comfortable than 2 inches less. Choose M if you prefer a closer fit and will wear only a thin layer underneath. Before you order, compare Shoulder (18 inches for M, 19 for L) and Sleeve (27 inches for both) with your crewneck too.

Example 2: You Usually Wear L and Want a Roomier Look

You usually wear an L on our size chart (not another brand’s L) and want something looser, but you don’t want sleeves hanging past your hands.

• XL is 4 inches roomier, 2 inches longer, and 1 inch longer in the sleeve. It’s a relaxed version of your usual fit.
• 2XL is 8 inches roomier than L, with the same length and Sleeve measurement as XL. The extra size goes mostly into the chest and shoulders, which gives a boxier shape.

XL and 2XL are both worth considering. Based on our chart, XL adds some room and 2XL adds more, but how roomy or oversized either one looks depends on your build and shoulders. The Sleeve measurement on the chart rises only 1 inch on both. Because the shoulders are wider too, the cuffs could sit a little lower when you wear it than that number alone suggests. If sleeve length matters most to you, XL stays closer to your L.

Layering: Plan for What Goes Underneath

Sizing up for style and sizing up for layers are two different decisions.

• Over a T-shirt: choose by measurement, as in the examples above. That’s what our regular fit is made for.
• Over a hoodie, flannel, or thermal: lay that layer flat, measure across the chest and double it, then measure across the shoulders. Choose a size that leaves comfortable extra room beyond the hoodie’s Bust and Shoulder, since a thick layer also takes up space under the arms and when you move. Check Sleeve too, since a bulky layer bunches at the wrists.
• Both ways? Size for the thicker layer.

Sizing for Women, Big and Tall Fans, and Kids

For Women

Our adult sizes are unisex. Instead of converting from a women’s letter size, measure a sweater she already wears.

Say her favorite sweatshirt measures 20.5 inches across the chest, or 41 inches around. S (40-inch Bust) is 1 inch smaller than that sweatshirt, so it will feel a little closer through the chest. M (44-inch Bust) is 3 inches larger, so it will feel looser. On chest measurement alone, S is the closer match to her sweatshirt, while M gives more room for a layer or a relaxed look. A similar Bust doesn’t mean the two will fit the same way, so compare the other measurements before deciding.

Unisex sweaters can run longer than she’s used to, so check Length and Shoulder as well: S is 26 inches long with a 17-inch shoulder, and M is 28 inches long with an 18-inch shoulder.

For Big and Tall Fans

Our adult sizes run up to 6XL, with a 73-inch Bust and a 34-inch length. If you’re tall, compare Bust, Length, and Sleeve together. From 3XL to 6XL, each size adds about an inch of length (31 to 34 inches). Sleeves only grow from 26 inches (S) to about 29 inches (6XL), so sizing up adds very little sleeve length.

For Kids

Kids’ sizes run from Toddler 2T to Youth XL. Choose by height and chest rather than age, since kids the same age can be very different sizes. On the kids’ chart, Chest is the width of the sweater laid flat, measured from armpit to armpit. Compare your flat measurement directly, without doubling it.

For example, a 5-year-old who is 46 inches tall falls in the Toddler 5 height range (45 to 47 inches). If they’re already 48 inches tall, they’re in the Youth XS range. Either way, check Chest as well, since height alone doesn’t tell you how a sweater will fit.

Buying for Someone Else

• Measure, don’t guess. Measure a sweatshirt they wear often, or ask someone who lives with them to do it.
• Not sure of the size? Hold off on personalization. Sweaters with custom text are made just for the recipient and can’t be returned or exchanged. Non-personalized sweaters can be exchanged for size under our Returns & Refunds Policy (fees apply).
• Matching sweaters for the family? Write down each person’s measurement and size before you check out, and make sure the design comes in both adult and kids’ sizes.

Looking for a design to give? See our NFL ugly sweater gift ideas.

How the Fabric Affects Fit

Our sweaters are printed edge to edge on a thick, ribbed fabric: 95% polyester and 5% spandex at 350 GSM. Here’s what that means for fit.

• Regular fit, smooth inside. The sweater is cut to fit like a classic crewneck, and the inside is smooth against a T-shirt or skin.
• Stretch that springs back. The spandex gives the fabric comfortable stretch when you move, and it returns to its shape instead of staying stretched out. Still, choose your size from the chart rather than counting on stretch.
• It keeps its size. Washed cold and air-dried as directed, the sweater keeps its size, so there’s no need to buy bigger to allow for shrinkage. Machine wash cold, don’t leave it soaking, and skip bleach, dry cleaning, and hot irons. Avoid the dryer when you can.

Ugly Sweater Sizing FAQs

Should I size up in an ugly Christmas sweater?

Only for a reason: you’re between sizes, you want a roomier look, or you’ll wear a thick layer underneath. If a sweater you own already fits the way you like, match its measurements instead.

Will my sweater shrink in the wash?

Washed cold and air-dried as directed, it keeps its size. Avoid the dryer when you can, and don’t use a hot iron.

Can I wear a hoodie under it?

Yes, but plan for it. Our sweaters are a regular fit, so measure the hoodie’s chest and shoulders and choose a size that leaves comfortable extra room beyond both. Then check the sleeves.

What if the size isn’t right?

Non-personalized sweaters can be exchanged for a different size under our Returns & Refunds Policy (fees apply). The sweater must be unworn and unwashed. Personalized sweaters can’t be returned or exchanged, so check the size before you add a name.

Find Your Fit, Then Your Team

Pick your look, measure a sweater that fits, and compare it with our size guide. Then find your team in our AFC team sweaters or NFC team sweaters, and check the size once more before you add it to your cart.

Prepared by The NFLUglySweater Team. How we put our guides together.